Please help me decide between Tioman or Redang or just go to Lombok enroute to Bali
May 28th, 2007, 08:14 PM
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Please help me decide between Tioman or Redang or just go to Lombok enroute to Bali
Hi everyone,
Will be in Singapore in about a month. After Singapore we have a few extra days before we meet friends in Bali.
Our Choices:
1. Fly to Redang or Tioman to take part in some beach/ snorkeling before flying back to Singapore and then onto Denpasar.
2 Fly silk air to Lombok and then (somehow?) get to Denpasar form there.
We've been to beautiful Bali before so know what to expect re: beaches. I would love to find a great beach location to chill for a few days and possibly snorkel (no diving) It is not imperative although nice if there is a bit of choice for dinning etc. Does Lombok offer beaches/sealife as nice as East Malaysia?
Also, any snorkel advice for Bali?
I have to book the SINGAPORE TO BALI portion of my ticket pretty soon so any advice would be appreciated!
Will be in Singapore in about a month. After Singapore we have a few extra days before we meet friends in Bali.
Our Choices:
1. Fly to Redang or Tioman to take part in some beach/ snorkeling before flying back to Singapore and then onto Denpasar.
2 Fly silk air to Lombok and then (somehow?) get to Denpasar form there.
We've been to beautiful Bali before so know what to expect re: beaches. I would love to find a great beach location to chill for a few days and possibly snorkel (no diving) It is not imperative although nice if there is a bit of choice for dinning etc. Does Lombok offer beaches/sealife as nice as East Malaysia?
Also, any snorkel advice for Bali?
I have to book the SINGAPORE TO BALI portion of my ticket pretty soon so any advice would be appreciated!
May 28th, 2007, 09:20 PM
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Redang Island or islands in the Perhentian group are SO MUCH BETTER THAN TIOMAN. Better beaches, better snorkeling, better everything. Tioman is principally a weekend place for Singaporeans on a budget and really IMO is not a nice beach, or a good snorkeling (or diving) location. (I used to live in Singapore) Do not waste any time or money going to Tioman please.
If you don’t mind a basic hotel, then consider driving/taxi/bus to Mersing and then going to Rawa Island. Good snorkeling off the beach, especially around toward the north and west coasts, and excellent snorkeling by hiring a boat and going to deserted islands in the area (which you can admittedly do from Tioman but then you are on Tioman which in not Rawa by any stretch of the imagination). IMO Rawa is just about the most perfect little beach in SE Asia. Mesing is about 2.5-3 hours by car and a short ferry ride, so may be more doable than flights to Redang, which generally involve a transfer in KL. I have read comments recently about avoiding Rawa on weekends as it is full of expats from Singapore, I would probably agree with that comment, if you can do a weekday trip, you may have more quiet privacy. It is not a 4 star hotel or anything, and you won’t find “dining choices” but take a look at rawasfr.com. There is a more budget bungalow hotel next door called le club rawa, take a look at http://www.journeymalaysia.com/islandrawaleclub.htm.
If you want more luxury on the east coast consider the Tanjong Jara hotel just south of Kuala Terrenganu, not a lot of snorkeling from the beach, but again hire a boat and go out to the islands nearby, or hop in a car or rent a motorbike and head down the coast to a better spot. Take a look at http://www.tanjongjararesort.com Fly into Kuala Terranganu, but again you may have to transfer through Kuala Lumpur from Singapore. If you only have a 2-3 days, this may be more pain than it is worth.
I would not recommend Kuantan as there is not really any snorkeling from the beach nor any nearby islands to go to for snorkeling.
If you want dining choices, IMO you are going to have to go to Koh Samui, which I believe from your other posts does not interest you.
If you have some time, you might consider going to Sipidan off the east coast of Kalimantan (Borneo). While principally known for diving, it has great snorkeling too. It’s a pain to get to by air, but you will already be in Singapore, and perhaps you can get to Denpassar from there.
For Bali, I would certainly go north and especially go to Menjangan Island. I have not snorkeled off Lombok so can’t compare it to Malaysia.
If you do go to Lombok, there is a public ferry service between Bali and Lombok that runs at least once a day. I reacll the trip takes like 4 hours but is really a fun trip. Check a guidebook or ask when you get to Lombok. I am pretty sure you can fly between the two as well.
If you don’t mind a basic hotel, then consider driving/taxi/bus to Mersing and then going to Rawa Island. Good snorkeling off the beach, especially around toward the north and west coasts, and excellent snorkeling by hiring a boat and going to deserted islands in the area (which you can admittedly do from Tioman but then you are on Tioman which in not Rawa by any stretch of the imagination). IMO Rawa is just about the most perfect little beach in SE Asia. Mesing is about 2.5-3 hours by car and a short ferry ride, so may be more doable than flights to Redang, which generally involve a transfer in KL. I have read comments recently about avoiding Rawa on weekends as it is full of expats from Singapore, I would probably agree with that comment, if you can do a weekday trip, you may have more quiet privacy. It is not a 4 star hotel or anything, and you won’t find “dining choices” but take a look at rawasfr.com. There is a more budget bungalow hotel next door called le club rawa, take a look at http://www.journeymalaysia.com/islandrawaleclub.htm.
If you want more luxury on the east coast consider the Tanjong Jara hotel just south of Kuala Terrenganu, not a lot of snorkeling from the beach, but again hire a boat and go out to the islands nearby, or hop in a car or rent a motorbike and head down the coast to a better spot. Take a look at http://www.tanjongjararesort.com Fly into Kuala Terranganu, but again you may have to transfer through Kuala Lumpur from Singapore. If you only have a 2-3 days, this may be more pain than it is worth.
I would not recommend Kuantan as there is not really any snorkeling from the beach nor any nearby islands to go to for snorkeling.
If you want dining choices, IMO you are going to have to go to Koh Samui, which I believe from your other posts does not interest you.
If you have some time, you might consider going to Sipidan off the east coast of Kalimantan (Borneo). While principally known for diving, it has great snorkeling too. It’s a pain to get to by air, but you will already be in Singapore, and perhaps you can get to Denpassar from there.
For Bali, I would certainly go north and especially go to Menjangan Island. I have not snorkeled off Lombok so can’t compare it to Malaysia.
If you do go to Lombok, there is a public ferry service between Bali and Lombok that runs at least once a day. I reacll the trip takes like 4 hours but is really a fun trip. Check a guidebook or ask when you get to Lombok. I am pretty sure you can fly between the two as well.
May 29th, 2007, 01:47 AM
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orange,
Malaysia: I haven't been to Redang so can't compare. I went to Tioman some 15 years ago and didn't like the way it was developing then and I can't imagine it's improved.
Lombok: it's quite easy to get from Lombok to Denpasar, either by the regular ferry service or by air.Flights are frequent. Lombok has some nice beaches but I was very disappointed in the diving. A lot of burned out coral. I understand there's some interesting deep current diving but since you're looking for snorkling that wouldn't apply.
Since Bali's undergoing a lot of highend development right now, I expect Lombok will have a renaissance too, but so far, I'm still waiting.
Bali: there is very nice snorkling in North Bali in the Menjagnan area. The beaches are black sand so not so spectacular but the water is clear and the marine life plentiful.
Other idea: You could also fly Silk Air non-stop to Manado on Sulawesi -- for some of the best reefs in the world, in Bunaken and Kungkungan. You can connect on to Denpasar on Garuda through Makassar.
Malaysia: I haven't been to Redang so can't compare. I went to Tioman some 15 years ago and didn't like the way it was developing then and I can't imagine it's improved.
Lombok: it's quite easy to get from Lombok to Denpasar, either by the regular ferry service or by air.Flights are frequent. Lombok has some nice beaches but I was very disappointed in the diving. A lot of burned out coral. I understand there's some interesting deep current diving but since you're looking for snorkling that wouldn't apply.
Since Bali's undergoing a lot of highend development right now, I expect Lombok will have a renaissance too, but so far, I'm still waiting.
Bali: there is very nice snorkling in North Bali in the Menjagnan area. The beaches are black sand so not so spectacular but the water is clear and the marine life plentiful.
Other idea: You could also fly Silk Air non-stop to Manado on Sulawesi -- for some of the best reefs in the world, in Bunaken and Kungkungan. You can connect on to Denpasar on Garuda through Makassar.
May 29th, 2007, 07:41 AM
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Hi Thanks for the replies..
Rawa looks great! Although not thrilled about overland trip to get there. There are direct flights into Redang from Singapore which for me is part of the attraction.
Manado-- Very nice but more geared to divers...maybe not this trip.
Still curious about Lombok. Are the beaches swimable? white sand or more grey (like Bali)?
Thanks!
Rawa looks great! Although not thrilled about overland trip to get there. There are direct flights into Redang from Singapore which for me is part of the attraction.
Manado-- Very nice but more geared to divers...maybe not this trip.
Still curious about Lombok. Are the beaches swimable? white sand or more grey (like Bali)?
Thanks!
May 29th, 2007, 05:49 PM
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We were very disappointed in the snorkeling in Lombok having flown on a day trip from Bali because the area around Denpasar was not that good. It was a waste of money and a day. The most interesting part of the day was the wet market.
The Redang has exceptionally good snorkeling and good diving and good beaches with hotels with A/C though not inexpensive but not were 3+ to 4 star. We stayed at the Beryaha Beach Resort for 6 nights and found it to be expensive for the region but very comfortable and excellelent snorkeling trips.
The Redang has exceptionally good snorkeling and good diving and good beaches with hotels with A/C though not inexpensive but not were 3+ to 4 star. We stayed at the Beryaha Beach Resort for 6 nights and found it to be expensive for the region but very comfortable and excellelent snorkeling trips.
May 29th, 2007, 06:52 PM
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The beaches in Lombok are nicer than those in Bali in my experience. The beaches are also MUCH less crowded. I can't tell you about snorkeling there. We met some people who went over to the Gillis, they said the snorkeling was good, but I can't vouch for them.
May 29th, 2007, 08:19 PM
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I really enjoyed Tioman. Stayed at a small resort on the southern end of the island. There were only 9 rooms and the snorkeling was excellent. Also some excellent hiking nearby. Didn't visit the areas where all the backpackers stay so can't comment on it.
www.japamalaresorts.com
www.japamalaresorts.com
